Quad City Times: Tour touts anti-abortion pledge before poll

With just days before Iowa’s Republican straw poll, representatives of the Faith Family Freedom Fund, the National Organization for Marriage and the Susan B. Anthony List rolled into Davenport on Tuesday with their Values Voter Bus Tour.

With just days before Iowa’s Republican straw poll, representatives of the Faith Family Freedom Fund, the National Organization for Marriage and the Susan B. Anthony List rolled into Davenport on Tuesday with their Values Voter Bus Tour.

Connie Mackey, president of Family Research Council Action, which supports anti-abortion candidates and pro-family issues, told a small crowd at Lafayette Park that the purpose of the 1,305-mile tour through 22 Iowa cities is to support those presidential candidates who have taken the pledge to support life and marriage.

“President Obama is the most pro-abortion president in United States history and has threatened individual states for exercising their right to de-fund Planned Parenthood,” Mackey said.

The group oversees the Faith Family Freedom Fund.

Former Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., who works for Susan B. Anthony List, an organization that supports pro-life women in politics, said that when people go to the straw poll Saturday in Ames, they should be aware of which candidates have pledged to value life and marriage.

“All eyes are on Iowa as we get ready for the straw poll,” Musgrave said. “We’re dedicated to electing pro-life women and supporting pro-life men. Elections can save lives.”

About 15 people on the bus tour wore T-shirts saying “Americans For Rick Perry” in support of the Republican governor of Texas.

“We are looking for a leader on life,” Musgrave added. “Governor Perry has a great pro-life legacy.”

Nate Crain, national finance chairman of Americans for Rick Perry, said the governor would make a statement of his intentions Saturday while in Iowa before heading to the Red State Gathering that is being held this weekend in Charleston, S.C.

Crain said Perry is the right candidate for the Republican party, “and the right man to face Obama in the election.”

“People are hungry for a leader to step up,” Crain said. “Perry is the right guy.”

Christopher Plante, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage-Rhode Island, also spoke to the crowd.

“Marriage and pro-life are winning issues,” Plante said.

“We’re starting at the grassroots level,” he said. “The people of Iowa will start the process of voting for a pro-marriage, pro-life president.”